Guardians Complete ALDS Comeback With Historic 21-Strikeout Shutout of White Sox

Cleveland became the 11th team to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2, fanning 21 Chicago batters in a 2-0 Game 5 victory.

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Saturday to win the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS, becoming just the 11th team in MLB history to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games. Cleveland pitching established a new MLB record for a nine-inning game by striking out 21 batters. Starter Gavin Williams, pitching on a single day of rest, earned the win by fanning 12 hitters and allowing only one hit across 5⅔ innings. Williams averaged 99 mph on his fastball, a significant increase over his regular-season average.

Jose Ramirez provided the game's only scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run home run off White Sox starter Sean Burke. The home run came on a curveball just 0.89 feet above the ground, the lowest pitch hit for a postseason home run since tracking began in 2008. Ramirez finished the final three games of the series 5-for-12 with two home runs after starting the ALDS 0-for-6.

Cleveland's bullpen combined for nine strikeouts to complete the record-setting performance. Reliever Erik Sabrowski preserved the 2-0 lead in the sixth inning by striking out Munetaka Murakami on five pitches with the bases loaded. Murakami struck out four times in the game, while Andrew Benintendi fanned four times and Chase Meidroth three times. The Guardians' staff totaled 75 strikeouts during the five-game series, setting another MLB record. Cleveland advances to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday.